Luton manager Rob Edwards has called on Hatters fans to get Kenilworth Road “rocking” for the crunch Premier League relegation clash against Everton, also asking supporters to “keep believing” that his team can beat the drop.
Town are one point behind Nottingham Forest so know that a victory over the now-safe Toffees tonight will lift Luton to temporary safety above the Reds, who are still to hear the outcome of their appeal over points deductions, and face already relegated Sheffield United tomorrow.
With three games remaining Luton will need to pick up points against an Everton side that they have beaten twice this term in league and cup, but who have secured their top flight place in the back of three straight victories where they’ve conceded zero goals.
So, to help his side defy the form books and keep Luton’s survival hopes alive, Edwards has urged fans to turn Kenilworth Road into an “intimidating” atmosphere.
“Our supporters will be huge for us, no doubt about it,” he said, adding: “I’ve mentioned that in my programme notes and we’ve spoken a lot about it throughout our time here. Kenilworth Road is a real different type of stadium, different type of atmosphere to many grounds, especially at this level now and our fans know the important role they can have.
“Under the lights it’s a different feeling, it is intimidating, it is close, but Everton themselves have got brilliant supporters as well and when they’re with them, Goodison Park can be very similar. We’ve got to make it rocking, I want them in early, I want them in in the warm up, making that noise and making themselves heard as they can be a 12th man for us.
“I think it’s really, really important as it’s not all going to be plain sailing. We’re going to have to dig in, we’re going to have to defend very, very well. It might be a bit nervy at times, we don’t know, those moments are when we’re going to need our supporters, they can make a huge difference.”
The Hatters have won just once in 13 matches amid a crippling injury crisis, though striker Elijah Adebayo returned with a late substitute’s cameo in the 2-1 defeat at Wolves last weekend and is available to face Everton.
The club is putting on a two-for-one drinks offer and a light show prior to the kick-off, to help ramp up the atmosphere. Asked if he had a message for the Hatters faithful ahead of three huge games to save their season, Edwards said: “Just believe and a big thank you as well as they’re special our supporters and they’ve stuck with us. We’ve given them some great times, not just now, before I was in this seat over the last few years too and I think they really appreciate the position that we’re in.
“But we all want to still be here next year as well, so thank you, keep believing and keep backing us and they’ve done that all season long.
“I love them, I really do and I’m really lucky to have a great rapport with our supporters. It’s special, it doesn’t always happen, especially when you’ve lost the number of games that we have done, but I think everyone’s got some realism and understands the position we’re in and the situation that we’re in. So yes, thank you, keep believing and back us.”
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